Job Description

Key Purpose: Provide excellent day to day support that respects people's preferences and choices and enables them to participate in the life of the community as valued citizens. Work collaboratively together with customers and other professionals to direct services (both social and clinical interventions), connecting into community resources, building resilience and improving wellbeing. To ensure that the provision of a high-quality support service to customers. Work within a recovery and psychologically informed approach, taking a holistic view to support people's recovery to live fulfilling lives. Ensure that services are tailored to individual's cultural and social needs. Job type and hours: Who you will be working for: This job involves providing direct support to people with mental health young people. Where you will be working: You will be supporting people in single occupancy homes, in shared supported living, or in work, learning and leisure services. You will be assigned to either an individual or a group within a defined geographical area - this may change from time to time. When you will work: The role requires flexibility and is likely to involve working a degree of unsocial hours to include evenings, weekends and in some cases overnight (either waking or sleep-in). Full time hours are 37.5 hour per week. Job role: Working with people with long-term mental health and complex needs. Its focus is on supporting people to gain the skills and confidence to live as independently as possible in the community, by providing specialist assessment, treatment and interventions for every individual. The Service has high expectations of recovery for everyone it supports. The role of a support worker involves supporting everyone to lead a life that is centred around enjoying freedom, enabling them to take as much control in their life as possible, and to exercise their rights, responsibilities and obligations as citizens. For support workers who work with children, enabling choice and control will involve close liaison with the child's family. These are the key things you will need to do to ensure you provide excellent support: All your actions will demonstrate respect for the rights of people you support, and for their decisions and choices. You will promote people's individuality, where necessary advocating on their behalf. You will support people to achieve their personal outcomes in relation to managing their daily life. This could include support to manage money, use transport, keep their home clean, prepare meals, use community leisure facilities, visit family and friends, and attend school, college or work. Some of your time may involve providing physical care, assistance or prompting in accordance with the individual's care plan, respecting their dignity and preferences. This could include supporting people to wash, dress, take medication or manage their continence. It's important that you take steps to find out about each person's preferred method of communication, demonstrating active listening and always encouraging their communication, for example through words, pictures, signing or behaviour. You will assist people to access mainstream and specialist services and agencies that promote their health and wellbeing. Where people do not have capacity to make some decisions in their life (and specifically when working with children/young people up to the age of 16), you will offer support, guidance and advice that is in their best interest. Through acting as a bridge-builder you will help individuals connect with others with whom they have shared interests. You will encourage each person to be included in and contribute to their local community, exercising their rights and obligations as a citizen, for example through local activities and events, paid work and volunteering. You will also engage volunteers and other non-paid people in increasing the individual's networks. You will encourage people to value work, supporting them to find and maintain employment, where this is appropriate. Through person centred planning you will coach people to express their aspirations, develop new skills and to recognise and use their talents. You will encourage and support people to adventure, to overcome disabling barriers, take risks and to try new things in a safe and supportive manner. You will support people to maintain important relationships and grow their social networks, acting as an advocate or mediator where necessary. This list is not exhaustive and may vary between different people and types of support service. These are the things we expect from you: We expect you to act in a professional, co-operative and solution-focused manner always, demonstrating accountability for your actions whilst creating an environment that is vibrant and creative rather than restrictive and controlling. As a support worker you will: Take appropriate and immediate action to: ensure people with learning disabilities are safeguarded from abuse and to report any instances of alleged abuse which you witness or become aware of. Work in a way that promotes trust and builds rapport with everyone, their family and significant others, particularly when supporting children and young people. Keep good records, communicate effectively and share information as appropriate whilst maintaining confidentiality and data protection requirements in line with Brandon policies. Understand and comply with the standards that you are required to work to, and endeavour to exceed them. Be an effective team member, demonstrating flexibility and resourcefulness, and co-operate with colleagues and other people in the best interest of people you support. Demonstrate through your actions that you understand and work within the values of Brandon Trust, to include respecting diversity and actively challenging discrimination. Comply with all aspects of statutory and local regulations in respect of Health, Safety and Environment. Dress and behave appropriately for the support role you are undertaking. The ability to drive and willingness to use your own transport on Brandon business is desirable and may be essential for some services. Please refer to the service specific skills profile. You will be paid a mileage rate for journeys undertaken. The post holder will work with identified customers alongside the rest of the Community Rehabilitation service. This will include an ongoing assessment of needs, goals and aspirations, working within agreed plans of support, supporting service user to follow these plans and to meet their goals. The post holder will contribute to regular reviews of these plans with service users to ensure that they are supporting their recovery and increasing independence. The role will also require undertaking and delivering specific interventions, including identified service users on other caseloads. This may be on a one to one basis, or as part of a group activity. The post holder will work on a rota within the Accommodation, as part of a team providing 24-hour cover to the service. The rota will be made up of shifts that will include day and night cover. The rota will be flexible to meet the needs of the service and service users. Person specification Essential Desirable Skills Numeracy and literacy to GCSE level/NVQ 2 or equivalent Basic IT Skills including producing various documents on Word and using email and internet Knowledge Knowledge of the care and support needs of people with mental health needs Knowledge of health and safety issues Knowledge of equal opportunities issues Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures relating to adults and children Experience Experience of working with vulnerable people either in a paid or voluntary capacity Experience of managing competing needs and priorities Proven experience of mental health issues and/or services,

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 25,647.00 per year

Ability to commute/relocate:

Reading, Berkshire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person